La Liga: “TV rights 20% overvalued”

The Spanish football teams that comprise La Liga have reportedly acknowledged that the price of the TV rights has been inflated by 20 per cent to €1.3 billion, as requested by La Liga in the public tender.

The football teams believe that the €1 billion fee per season in the domestic market would be more reasonable. They fear that the tender will be declared void following the refusal by TV operators to pay such a high sum, and they may consequently lose 40 per cent of their revenues.

Telco operators have been putting pressure on La Liga to reduce the price, at a time when the tender for the rights 2019-2022 are about to take place.

La Liga aims to get €1.3 billion per year in the domestic market and an additional €1 billion in the International market, with a total of €6.9 billion in three years (€2.3 billion per year).

The football teams think that the €2.3 billion per year is excessive, representing a 35 per cent more than the €1.7 billion this year. The teams fear that demanding such a high figure may be counterproductive and make them lose a great chunk of their revenues if operators ultimately refuse to pay.